Media storage cabinet

ABSTRACT

A media storage cabinet having fixed vertical posts therein, each formed with a vertical opening into the interior of the post. Vertical panel walls of the post adjacent the opening are each provided with a vertical row of bayonet slots, the arm portions of which communicate with the opening. Media supports for disk packs, tape reels and tape seals, printout binders, and the like are provided with hook elements engageable with the slots in such manner that the supports may be suspended at selected levels across co-planar walls of the posts or between the walls of opposed posts without dismantling the cabinet or removing the posts therefrom to do so; and the supports may be readily unhooked from their suspended positions.

United States Patent 91 Potter MEDIA STORAGE CABINET [75] Inventor: Frank Potter, Syosset, NY.

[73] Assignee: Filing Systems Inc., Plainview, NY.

[22] Filed: Dec. 5, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 312,349

[52] US. Cl 211/162, 108/107, 211/176,

312/351 [51] Int. Cl A47b 47/00 [58] Field of Search 211/162, 94, 94.5, 118,

[ Oct. 29, 1974 2/1966 France 108/106 7/1934 Norway ..2ll/148 [57] ABSTRACT A media storage cabinet having fixed vertical posts therein, each formed with a vertical opening into the interior of the post. Vertical panel walls of the post adjacent the opening are each provided with a vertical row of bayonet slots, the arm portions of which communicate with the opening. Media supports for disk packs, tape reels and tape seals, printout binders, and the like are provided with hook elements engageable with the slots in such manner that the supports may be suspended at selected levels across co-planar walls of the posts or between the walls of opposed posts without dismantling the cabinet or removing the posts therefrom to do so; and the supports may be readily unhooked from their suspended positions.

5 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures EACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is concerned with storage apparatus for media containers. It is more particularly concerned with apparatus or cabinets for storing therein media containers, such as tape seals and reels, disk packs, printout binders, and the like.

The general objective of this invention is to provide improved and practical apparatus for this purpose.

Another object of this invention is to provide a media storage cabinet in which supports for various forms of media containers may be detachably suspended laterally or longitudinally of the cabinet at selective levels without requiring the cabinet to be dismantled in order to do so.

A further object is to provide a media storage cabinet having a group of posts occupying fixed positions therein across and between which media supports may be detachably hooked at selective levels without requiring the cabinet or posts to be dismantled in order to do so.

A feature of the invention lies in the arrangement of a group of posts in the cabinet in fixed positions and in such manner that a slotted wall of each post is coplanar with a laterally spaced slotted wall of another post and is in opposed spaced parallel relation to a slotted wall of a third post, and the slots are of bayonet form which open through the longitudinal edges of the walls, whereby media supports may be detachably suspended across the co-planar faces of a selected pair of posts or may be detachably suspended between opposed walls of the posts.

A further feature of the invention lies in media supports which are adapted to be releasably hooked across the co-planar faces of the slotted posts; and other supports which are adapted to be releasably hooked between the slotted walls of a pair of opposed posts.

A still further feature of the invention is a vertical post having an opening lengthwise thereof and having at least one vertical panel wall adjacent said opening provided with a vertical row of bayonet slots which open through a free edge of the vertical wall, whereby a hook or lug at the end of a support may be entered into a selected one of the slots through the opening of the slot at the free edge of the wall.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein the invention is illustrated. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for purposes of illustration and description, and is not to be construed as defining'the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. I is a top plan view of a media storage cabinet embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section taken on line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an angle form media support;

FIGS. 5, 6, and '7 are fragmentary detail views in perspective of different forms of media supports, respectively, a roller track, an angle form, and a bar rack;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a modified form of post;

FIG 9 is a top plan view of a media storage cabinet in which the posts are U-form; and

FIGS. 10 and 111 are fragmentary details of supports in which the hook elements are pressed from wall portions of the supports.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The media storage cabinet illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 is of squared or rectangular configuration. It has four vertical supporting corner posts, generally designated 2, and individually identified as posts A, B, C, and D. The posts are of hollow tubular design, square in cross sectron.

The posts are fixed in place by means of upper and lower cross rails 3 at the front and back of the cabinet; and by means of upper and lower cross rails 4 at the sides. The rails 3 are fixed, as by welding, to the outer faces of walls 5 of the several posts. The rails 4 are similarly fixed to the outer faces of the walls 6 of the several posts. In this arrangement, the front, back, sides and top of the cabinet are open so as to allow access to the interior of the cabinet from any selected vantage point. The several access openings may, however, be closed by means of appropriate panels, not shown, releasably secured in place so as to enable any selected one of them to be readily detached when needed.

Each post is defined by four vertical flat panel walls. Of these, walls 5 and 6 face outwardly of the cabinet; and walls 7 and 8 face the inside of the cabinet. Walls '7 and 8 extend short of intersecting with one another, so that the innermost corner of each post is open or vacant, as at 9. In this arrangement the free vertical leading edge ll of wall 7 stands in a plane inwardly from the plane of wall 8; and the free vertical leading edge 12 of wall 8 stands in a similar relation to the plane of wall 7.

The wall 8 of each post is provided with a vertical row of bayonet slots 13. These are spaced one above the other. The wall 7 of each post is also provided with a similar arrangement of bayonet slots 13. Each slot comprises an enlarged portion 14 from the upper end of which an arm portion 15 extends through the free edge of the related wall to the opening 9.

The several posts are arranged so that the wall 8 of each post is opposite to and in spaced parallel relation to a corresponding wall 8 of another post, as indicated by the walls 8 of posts A and B, and by the walls 8 of posts C and D; and so that the wall 8 of each post is also co-planar and in lateral spaced relation to a corresponding wall 8 of another post, as indicated by the walls 8 of posts A and C, and by the walls 8 of posts B and D. In this arrangement the slots 13 in the wall 8 of each post are aligned with and at the same level as the slots of the walls 8 of the other posts. The walls 7 of the several posts are similarly arranged with respect to one another.

This particular structure of the posts and their fixed arrangement in a cabinet represents a desirable advance in media storage apparatus having various beneficial advantages. It enables media supports of various forms for supporting various forms of media containers, as will later be described, to be positioned between or across selected posts and hooked in slots at selected levels; and it enables the supports to be readily unhooked when desired and removed from the cabinet. When assemblying the supports into the cabinet or when removing them, it is not required to dismantle the cabinet in any manner. The particular nature and form of the supports to be entered into the cabinet will depend upon the use they are designed to serve. Further, supports of different forms for supporting different forms of media containers may occupy the same cabinet at different levels.

The supports may be of angle form, as at 16 in FIGS. 2 and 4; of roller track form, as at 17 in FIGS. 1 and 2; or of such other form as will be useful is supporting media material within the cabinet. However, whatever fonn a support may have, it will have a pair of suitable lugs or hooks l8 thereon enabling it to be engaged with the bayonet slots in the posts, so that the support may be suspended across the co-planar faces of a pair of posts or between the opposed walls of a pair of posts.

Angle form supports 16 are suitable as end rests for a cross member, such as a shelf 19, upon which media containers may be rested, such as tape reels and disk packs 21; or as end rests for a bar rack, as at 22, from which tape seals 23 may be suspended by means of hooks 24 thereon. Racks of other forms, not shown, may also be rested upon the angle form supports.

Roller track supports 17 are suitable for having suspended between them printout binders 25 of the roller suspension type, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Supports that are designed to be suspended across the co-planar slotted faces of a pair of posts will have engaging books 18 offset rearwardly from their body portions, as indicated with respect to the angle form support 16 in FIGS. 2 and 4. The hooks are spaced laterally from one another a distance corresponding to the span between the enlarged portions 14 of the slots formed in a pair of co-planar faces of a pair of posts, so that the hooks will be registrable with the enlarged slot portions 14 for entry and hooked engagement therein. Accordingly, if it is desired to assemble a shelf 19 into the cabinet, a pair of angle form supports 16 are entered into the cabinet through one of the access openings. The hooks of one of the supports are then registered with and hooked into a pair of slots at a selected level in the co-planar walls of a pair of posts, such as the walls 8 of posts A and C. The other support is similarly arranged at a corresponding level with respect to the co-planar walls 8 of posts B and D. The shelf 19 is then entered and rested upon the shoulders 27 of the opposed supports.

Supports that are designed to be suspended between the walls of a pair of opposed posts will have their areas 9, this form of support could be suspended between the fixed posts.

To suspend the support 17 between the posts C and D, the flat horizontal portions 29 of its hooks are registered with the open ends of the arm portions of slots at selected levels in both posts. The body 28 of the support is then moved backwardly between the posts, and as it does so it carries the extremities of the hooks through the open areas 9 and carries the flat portions 29 of the hooks through the arms 15 of the slots to seated engagement with the enlarged portions of the slots.

To suspend printout binders 25 of the roller suspension type in the cabinet, a pair of roller track supports hooks 18 extending longitudinally from opposite ends of its body, as indicated with respect to the roller track support 17 in FIGS. 1 and 2, suspended between the opposed walls 8 of posts C and D. The overall length of this form of support is greater than the distance between the opposed walls 8 of posts C and D. And when its body portion 28 is aligned with the space between the posts, its hook portions 18 extend across the leading edges 12 of both posts into the open areas 9. Were it not for the open areas 9 in the posts and the fact that the arm portions 15 of the bayonet slots open into the 17 are entered into the cabinet through any convenient access opening. One of the supports is suspended at a selected level between the posts C and D, as earlier described. A second support 17 is suspended at a corresponding level between the posts A and B, as shown in FIG. 1. Rollers 31 carried at opposite flanged ends 32 of the binders are then engaged in conventional manner in the tracks 33 of the supports.

Supports designed to be hooked between a pair of opposed posts, as described with respect to the roller track support 17, may have the form of end hook as shown at 18a in the support forms in FIGS. 5-7, wherein the depending flange extremity 34 shown with respect to the roller track support 17 is eliminated.

In FIGS. l-3 the posts 2 are shown as having bayonet slots in both walls 7 and 8. It is understood that in some applications one of the walls of each post having the slots will suffice.

FIG. 8 shows a form which the post may take in which only one of the several walls is formed with bayonet slots, as indicated by the broken line 13a in wall 8a. The opening into the post at 9a serves the purpose of the opening 9 of the posts in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 shows a modified form of cabinet in which the posts 2b are of squared U-form in cross section. Side rails 3a and 4a rigidly hold the several posts in place. When this form of the post is used as a corner post, only the interior facing or free wall 8b is formed with bayonet slots. When this form of post is located intermediately of a pair of posts, as indicated by the posts E, then both of its parallel walls 8b and 8a are formed with bayonet slots, as indicated at 13a. In this arrangement, as in FIG. 1, media supports may be suspended between the opposed and across the co-planar slotted walls. The opening 9b into each post serves the purpose of the opening 9 in FIG. 1.

Supports designed to be suspended across the coplanar faces of a pair of posts may have their hook elements pressed out of a rear wall thereof, as indicated at 18b with respect to the angle form support in FIG. 10. Similarly, supports designed to be suspended between the opposed walls of a pair of posts may have their hook elements pressed out of end walls thereof, as indicated at 18c with respect to the roller track form in FIG. 11.

It is also apparent that a fixed condition of the several posts in a cabinet may be obtained without the aid of the rails 3 and 4. This may be done by suspending between each of the opposed walls of the posts an upper and a lower support of a form having end hook elements, as indicated by the roller track supports in FIGS. 2 and 11; and by suspending across each of the co-planar faces of the posts an upper and a lower support of a form having offset hook elements, as indicated by the angle form supports in FIGS. 2 and Iltl.

While the invention has been illustrated and de scribed in detail as above, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes can be made in the design and arrangement of the parts withtout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention; and it is my intent, therefore, to claim the invention not only as shown and described but also in all forms and modifications thereof as may reasonably be construed to fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A media storage cabinet of rectangular form comprising a group of posts each having a fixed upright vertical position in a separate comer of the cabinet; the cabinet having parallel longitudinally extending opposed rails, and parallel laterally extending opposed rails; each post comprising four vertical fiat walls, a first wall of which extends inwardly into the cabinet, a second wall of which extends at right angles from the first wall and is fixed in parallel abutting relation to one of the laterally extending rails, a third wall of which extends at right angles from the second wall in opposed parallel relation to the first wall and in fixed parallel abutting relation to one of the longitudinally extending rails, and a fourth wall of which extends inwardly into the cabinet at right angles from the third wall and in opposed parallel relation to the second wall, the first wall being shorter in its lateral dimension than the opposed third wall, the fourth wall being shorter in its lateral dimension than the opposed second wall, the first and fourth walls each having a vertical leading edge separated from the other by a space co-extensive with the length of the post, the space being a result of the said shorter lateral dimensions of the first and fourth walls, and each of the first and fourth walls having therein a vertical row of bayonet slots having arm portions which open horizontally through the leading edge of the related wall to the space; the first wall of each post being disposed in co-planar relation with a corresponding first wall of a second post and also being disposed in parallel opposed relation to a corresponding first wall of a third post; the fourth wall of each post being disposed in co-planar relation to a corresponding fourth wall of a second post and also being disposed in parallel opposed relation to a corresponding fourth wall of a third post; a first media supporting bar having a hook extending from each end thereof, the hooks being slidably received into bayonet slots of opposed first walls of a selected pair of the posts through the anti portions of the slots; a second media supporting bar having a hook extending from each end thereof, the latter hooks being slidably received into bayonet slots of opposed fourth walls of a selected pair of posts through the arm portions of the slots; and said media supporting bars being slidably and selectively removable from the related bayonet slots by withdrawing the related hooked ends through the related arm portions of the slots without disturbing the fixed condition of the related posts.

2. A media storage cabinet as in claim 1, wherein one of the media supporting bars is in the form of a roller track.

3. A media storage cabinet as in claim 1, wherein one of the media supporting bars is in the form of a rack.

d. A media storage cabinet as in. claim 1, wherein one of the media supporting bars is of angle form.

5. A media storage cabinet of rectangular form comprising a group of four posts each having a fixed upright vertical position in a separate corner of the cabinet; the cabinet having parallel longitudinally extending opposed rails and parallel laterally extending opposed rails; each post comprising four vertical fiat walls, a first wall of which extends inwardlly into the cabinet, a second wall of which extends at right angles from the first wall and is fixed in parallel abutting relation to one of the laterally extending rails, a third wall of which extends at right angles from the second wall in opposed parallel relation to the first wall and in fixed parallel abutting relation to one of the longitudinally extending rails, and a fourth wall of which extends inwardly into the cabinet at right angles from the third wall and in op posed parallel relation to the second wall, the first wall being shorter in its lateral dimension than the opposed third wall, the fourth wall being shorter in its lateral dimension than the opposed second wall, the first and fourth walls each having a vertical leading edge separated from the other by a space co-extensive with the length of the post, the space being a result of the said shorter lateral dimensions of the first and fourth walls, and each of the first and fourth walls having therein a vertical row of bayonet slots having arm portions which open horizontally through the leading edge of the related wall to the space; the first wall of each post being disposed in coplanar relation to a corresponding first wall of a second post and also being disposed in parallel opposed relation to a corresponding first wall of a third post; and the fourth wall of each post being disposed in co-planar relation to a correspondling fourth wall of a second post and also being disposed in parallel opposed relation to a corresponding fourth wall of a third post. =l= i l= d l 

1. A media storage cabinet of rectangular form comprising a group of posts each having a fixed upright vertical position in a separate corner of the cabinet; the cabinet having parallel longitudinally extending opposed rails, and parallel laterally extending opposed rails; each post comprising four vertical flat walls, a first wall of which extends inwardly into the cabinet, a second wall of which extends at right angles from the first wall and is fixed in parallel abutting relation to one of the laterally extending rails, a third wall of which extends at right angles from the second wall in opposed parallel relation to thE first wall and in fixed parallel abutting relation to one of the longitudinally extending rails, and a fourth wall of which extends inwardly into the cabinet at right angles from the third wall and in opposed parallel relation to the second wall, the first wall being shorter in its lateral dimension than the opposed third wall, the fourth wall being shorter in its lateral dimension than the opposed second wall, the first and fourth walls each having a vertical leading edge separated from the other by a space co-extensive with the length of the post, the space being a result of the said shorter lateral dimensions of the first and fourth walls, and each of the first and fourth walls having therein a vertical row of bayonet slots having arm portions which open horizontally through the leading edge of the related wall to the space; the first wall of each post being disposed in co-planar relation with a corresponding first wall of a second post and also being disposed in parallel opposed relation to a corresponding first wall of a third post; the fourth wall of each post being disposed in co-planar relation to a corresponding fourth wall of a second post and also being disposed in parallel opposed relation to a corresponding fourth wall of a third post; a first media supporting bar having a hook extending from each end thereof, the hooks being slidably received into bayonet slots of opposed first walls of a selected pair of the posts through the arm portions of the slots; a second media supporting bar having a hook extending from each end thereof, the latter hooks being slidably received into bayonet slots of opposed fourth walls of a selected pair of posts through the arm portions of the slots; and said media supporting bars being slidably and selectively removable from the related bayonet slots by withdrawing the related hooked ends through the related arm portions of the slots without disturbing the fixed condition of the related posts.
 2. A media storage cabinet as in claim 1, wherein one of the media supporting bars is in the form of a roller track.
 3. A media storage cabinet as in claim 1, wherein one of the media supporting bars is in the form of a rack.
 4. A media storage cabinet as in claim 1, wherein one of the media supporting bars is of angle form.
 5. A media storage cabinet of rectangular form comprising a group of four posts each having a fixed upright vertical position in a separate corner of the cabinet; the cabinet having parallel longitudinally extending opposed rails and parallel laterally extending opposed rails; each post comprising four vertical flat walls, a first wall of which extends inwardly into the cabinet, a second wall of which extends at right angles from the first wall and is fixed in parallel abutting relation to one of the laterally extending rails, a third wall of which extends at right angles from the second wall in opposed parallel relation to the first wall and in fixed parallel abutting relation to one of the longitudinally extending rails, and a fourth wall of which extends inwardly into the cabinet at right angles from the third wall and in opposed parallel relation to the second wall, the first wall being shorter in its lateral dimension than the opposed third wall, the fourth wall being shorter in its lateral dimension than the opposed second wall, the first and fourth walls each having a vertical leading edge separated from the other by a space co-extensive with the length of the post, the space being a result of the said shorter lateral dimensions of the first and fourth walls, and each of the first and fourth walls having therein a vertical row of bayonet slots having arm portions which open horizontally through the leading edge of the related wall to the space; the first wall of each post being disposed in co-planar relation to a corresponding first wall of a second post and also being disposed in parallel opposed relation to a corresponding first wall of a third post; and the fourth wall of each post being disposed in co-planAr relation to a corresponding fourth wall of a second post and also being disposed in parallel opposed relation to a corresponding fourth wall of a third post. 